American Idol Top 7

It was Inspiration night on American Idol last night and the contestants were asked to sing a song that inspires them. The songbook was probably endless and overall I think they stayed way more current than they have been. I guess that's not making a great point when the last two weeks have been Elvis and Beatles songs. The great Alicia Keys was there to mentor the contestants this week and she did a pretty good job. As my friend and I said last night... with 12 Grammys on her shelf, you better believe I am listening to every damn word of advice Alicia Keys has to give me. Can you imagine saying no to Alicia Keys? "Actually, I think I'll sing it my own way". No... that would be dumb. I'm looking forward to her performance tonight for the Idol Gives Back show along with all of the other amazing musical acts. Break out the tissues and the wallet. I'm going to want to save every kid in Africa, buy every bed net I can to prevent Malaria, do all I can. For more information on how to give back, check out the Idol site. Idol Gives Back is an amazing thing. Be a part of it.

http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/

Here are my thoughts from last night's show:

Casey James (Song Choice: Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow)

This performance was so annoyingly generic. And I think it's time for him to go. I don't even feel like writing about him. It's inspiration week... He coulda had a moment. A millions songs to choose and he picks this Fleetwood Mac song, which will always remind me of Bill Clinton's election campaign. My mother, who is not a Clinton fan, hates this song. Yep, she loathes Bill so much, she has to take it out on Fleetwood Mac. Anyways, bad choice of song and he should head home just because of it. Couldn't agree more with Simon - it was just a lazy song choice.

Lee Dewyze (Song Choice: The Boxer)

Here we go... Casey James, this is how it's done. I love this song and I loved this performance. It was just really pretty and finally we see something totally new on this show. Enough with the Mariah, Aersomith (Don't Wanna Miss a Thang), Whitney ballads... Simon and Garfunkel shakes it up. Lee just does it right. He has the Idol handbook. Pick a song that people like, but they don't even realize how good of a song it is... until someone reinvents it and makes it current. Lee is mastering this this season. I loved the last performance in which Simon said he had his moment, but for me... this was the performance in which he had his moment. Simon and Garfunkel would be proud. Consider this song downloaded.

Tim Urban (Song Choice: Better Days)

Love love this Goo Goo Dolls song. And Tim did a pretty good job with it. He's making smarter choices and this was one of them. No one ever tackles the Goo Goo Dolls on this show and they should. Their songs are fantastic. Dizzy Up the Girl is one of favorite albums. It has hit after hit. My friend and I have a little game we play where we rank each of their hit singles from this album and when "Iris" comes on the radio, we'll just call out "#6" (me) or #1 (her). My Dizzy Up the Girl ranking system goes something like this:

#1 - Slide

#2 - Black Balloon

#3 - Broadway

#4 - Acoustic

#5 - All Eyes On Me

#6 - Iris (it got bumped to 6 when they overplayed it, plus City of Angels with Meg and Nic Cage is a shitty movie)

What are your thoughts on this album!?

Back to Tim... I think High School Musical boy sticks around for another week. He was a pleasant surprise. Didn't do anything new with the song except for it being a little more acoustic, but he sounded nice and he flashed the pearly whites. That's good for about 10K votes.

Aaron Kelly (Song Choice: I Believe I Can Fly)

I thought Aaron was really good. I think this kid finally had his moment. I like that he took on this R. Kelly song and he made it more of a country ballad. Started off slow, but when he kicked into high gear, he was definitely in the pocket. This kid has a big voice and I think he's going to do really well in country music. I do like this song, but it is pretty darn cheesy. It's one of those songs that you like to sing, but don't really want to hear a MAN sing. It kind of takes the man chip away from him (kind of the way I feel about men who have never seen Top Gun. It kind of takes their penis away). Unfortunately, this song reminds me of the NBA player (and former UCONN basketball player) Rip Hamilton. Rip won my school a national championship and was/is one of my favorite players ever. But when he was asked how he gets fired up for a game, he said that he would listen to R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly". Really? Do you REALLY have to be so cheesy? Now I just picture my favorite player in the locker room with his freaking discman getting inspired by this queer song. It's totally ruined it for me. Can't you listen to a manly song like "Lose Yourself" by Eminem? I think everyone should get fired up for that song. It's the only answer that's acceptable.

Siohban Magnus (Song Choice: When You Believe)

Besides the fact that she looked like fairy from the latest Tinkerbell movie on the Disney channel, I thought Siohban did pretty well. I really really like Siohban. She is poised. She has great answers. Sometimes she take a little while to get her point out, but she chooses her words carefully. However, I'm beginning to feel lukewarm about her voice. She can hit the big notes, which she did last night... but I don't need them. I like her voice in a lower register. And I have to agree with being confused about what kind of album she'll make. Here's my only advice to her: Don't make the same album as Kat McPhee. I had the McPhever in season 5 and she then turned around and made the worst debut album ever. She was in such a rush to get this album out. I'm convinced she took every song that people like Ashlee Simpson and Lindsey Lohan passed on and put it on her album, just to get it released. And it was f'ing awful. There's one single called "Open Toes" and it's pretty much about getting a pedicure and going out on the town in open-toed shoes. It's f'ing stupid. LiLo is dumb as dirt and she probably had the good sense to pass on this song.

With all that said, I liked the arrangment of the song and I thought she controlled her voice and the song pretty well. She didn't try to be Mariah or Whitney, she just sang the song in a pretty way. It didn't wow anyone, but definitely didn't disappoint. Should be interesting to see how she fares tonight.

Michael Lynche (Song Choice: Hero)

My first reaction to the song choice: "This is a little Spiderman for me". Please note: I did not steal this line from Simon. It was the first thing that came to me when I heard he was singing this song. And I'd assume that everyone had this reaction since it was the theme song for a blockbuster superhero movie (great song by Dashboard Confessionals). I just don't want to hear anyone sing it. I just thought the performance was a little amateur for me and a giant step backwards for Big Mike. He sang it well, but it just didn't solidify why he was in the Top 7. He looked like he was performing in the early rounds of this competition. He is this "woman's work" and "In the Ghetto" guy... not a guy who wears a boring grey t-shirt and sing a rock song. It creeps me out to see him hold that guitar too. He's so big, it looks like a little Barbie guitar. It's unsettling.

Michael is in some trouble.

Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: Get Ready)

In the words of Billy Madison, "Geez, why don't you just give her the trophy".

Crystal is amazing. There's not much more to say. This performance was the definition of inspirational. She sang it brilliantly. She's incredibly talented. The accapela at the beginning, the arrangement, the tears at the end for her father. Loved it all. She can pretty much do anything. We're looking at a true artist who is going make her mark on the music industry. I can't wait.

In Trouble: Casey, Big Mike, Aaron or Tim. The girls should be safe.

Ricky Shroeder Turns 40!

This past week I was doing my daily search for Entertainment news & gossip and I came up on some disturbing news.

Ricky Shroeder just turned 40.

My first crush, first love, first Bop magazine pin-up boy... is 40. It kind of freaked me out and just put so much in perspective for me (mostly my age). I don't know if you can understand how much I loved this boy... Ricky Shroeder photos were all over my wall and all over my scrapbook. "Silver Spoons" was my FAVORITE show in the 80's. My older sister and I would watch it and every time they showed the credits at the beginning to one of the best theme songs ever ("Togeeeeeether, we're gonna find our way...") and Ricky's name would flash across the screen with him wearing the green LaCoste shirt... we would fight over who got to kiss the TV screen. This really happened... every week. He grew up before our eyes. He went from little Ricky to "The Ricker". And he was just the cutest thing ever.

There's a story here. My mom and dad made my older sister go to Hechinger's on a Saturday night. Hechinger's was an 80's Virginia version of Home Depot. And it was a really f'ing boring store, the last place I wanted to be on a Saturday night. I had places to be (at the age of 8) and that place was my couch watching a re-run of the "Silver Spoons" episode where Ricky dresses up like a girl. It was one of my favorites and I was not going to miss it. I remember watching the clock, checking my watch, annoyingly asking what my parents what time it was. Dammit, why didn't someone invent Tivo? Why didn't I set my VCR? I tried passing the time entertaining myself by playing on the dolleys, rolling it all over the store. I started to piss off my parents. "Oh I'm sorry... Am I embarrassing you? Well, take me home to watch Silver Spoons and I'll knock it off". I had to bargain with them. It didn't work and they returned to their shopping. Before I knew it, I missed my show and we had new knobs for our kitchen cabinets. Pretty annoying.

My point is: Ricky Shroeder was my priority in the 80's. Life revolved around the Ricker. And I didn't want to be anywhere else but in front of that television set watching my blue eyed, blond haired crush. He went from Ricky (the boy) to the Ricker (the teenager) to Rick (the man). He came back to television as Detective Danny Sorenson on NYPD Blue for a few years in the 90's and I was happy, but of course it wasn't the same as the "Silver Spoons" years.

Well, Happy 40th Birthday Ricky. Thanks for making me feel super freaking old.

Blah Blah Blah...

So I was watching Saturday Night Live last night with host Ryan Phillipe and the musical guest was Kesha. You may have heard of Ke$ha. She has 2 annoying (albeit "hit") songs on the radio... ones called "Tik Tok" and "Blah Blah". Yeah... amazing song titles right? With deep lyrics, super original? NO. I was watching and I just couldn't understand it. Who the F is this girl and why is she famous? What kind of talent does she have? Who discovered her?

And I've come to one conclusion: This girl is an asshole. Seriously, she's an asshole. A poor man's Lady Gaga. She wishes she was Britney Spears. On SNL, she sang two of her "hit" songs, one of them being Tik Tok... the other I fast forwarded because it pained me to watch.. of course not before I got a glimpse of her in a black suite with flourescent face paint. Oh good Lord. But the first song ("Tik Tok"), oh my goodness the first song... She had a silvery black unitard on that she was hoping gave her a rocking body like Britney or Lady Gaga. She did not succeed. It gave her nothing but a camel toe and a frumpy figure. Then she had an American flag cape attached to her. She was doing the running man. She was doing the robot. She was doing these basic dance moves a teenage boy in the 90's would try out before he hit his first high school dance. It was F'ing awful. No dance skills, no singing voice, no talent. And the majority of her songs are of her talking, not singing ("Now the party don't stop til I walk in...". What a genius lyric.). The funny thing is she looks like a normal pretty blonde girl you'd be friends with. But someone took that normal pretty girl with a mediocre voice and kind of made her a joke. It's just all so contrived. She's trying to be Lady Gaga and it's not working for her. She's wearing the jumpsuits, the capes, the headress... and she doesn't have the voice to support it. SNL wasn't even the first time I questioned why this girl was discovered. She performed her song "Blah Blah Blah" on an American Idol elimination show earlier in the season and I was so appalled by her lack of talent that I said to my friend, "my dad is cringing right now at how freaking awful this girl is". Because if he was weirded out by Lady Gaga's performance on that show, he was definitely confused by this one (He refers to LG as "that girl with the zipper on ther face"). Then I hear she has the f'ing nerve to criticize Britney Spears for lip-syching during her concerts. Here's the deal: I love Britney Spears. I know she hasn't been the best role model ever, but I'm a supporter. Team Britney all the way over here. I know it looks like she lip-synchs at times and I want to die a little bit when I see that, but I also know that she has talent that hasn't gotten her where she is to today and that she has countless #1 hits to her name. So when some freaking no name with a dollar sign in her name comes around and bitches about my girl, then Yes.. I have a problem.

And ya know what I say to that??! BLAH BLAH BLAH.

What a joke.

American Idol Top Nine... AGAIN

So when I heard that Adam Lambert was the mentor this week, I really thought... what the frigg!?! Has this guy even earned the right to mentor? He's had 2 singles. Even Miley Cyrus at 17 years old has more of a right to mentor. But I have to admit, he did give some good advice on originality and peformance. I'm not sure they took all of it, but still. I do like the fact that Adam could relate to what the judges are looking for. He could give pretty good advice on "how to make the song your own". But really...what is up with the budget at Idol?!? Well, Elvis Presley week returned to Idol last night. I feel like this has just been done, but it's actually been 4 seasons since the Idols took on the King of Rock 'n Roll. And during that season there were only 4 contestants left so there were a lot more songs to be performed this time around.

Here's what I thought....

Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: Saved)

Okay, okay.. it was pretty good, but I have to be honest....this was the least favorite of the Crystal performances. I like her gospel sound, but I'm not really a bluesy fan, so it didn't really do anything for me. I think I was flipping through a magazine while listening and usually I'm hanging on every lyric Crystal sings. She'll soar through to the next round, but she needs to go back to what she does best... everything else but that.

Andrew Garcia (Song Choice: Hound Dog)

Hound Dog. Who sings Hound Dog on Idol? Andrew. Andrew sings Hound Dog. UUUUUGH. This is what I call a recipe for disaster. It's just a terrible song choice. This song should never ever be sung on this show. You will never ever make this song currect. Andrew just goes too obvious. This is the kind of song that when people DON'T watch Idol tune in for the very first time to check it out, decide they absolutely hate the show and then they start to write on their facebook statusus on how much they hate it (Okay, maybe that actually happened). But it's true... I equate this to Anoop Desai singing "Beat It" last year during Michael Jackson week. Some songs are untouchable. Add Hound Dog to the list. Can't Buy Me Love one week and Hound Dog the next? This guy's gotta go. It was not good.

Tim Urban (Song Choice: Can't Help Falling in Love)

I did not hate this. Ugh. I kind of liked it. I thought he looked cute and vulnerable and no doubt his best performance to date. Loved the lights and the stool and the adorable hair... and even the voice this week. I think Mr. High School Musical is sticking around for another week. I have to admit, I don't see a bottom 3 for this kid at all. Watch.. out of all the weeks that we've been waiting for him to leave, this will be the one.

Lee Dewyze (Song Choice: A Little Less Conversation)

I love Lee. Every week I love Lee. This song was a risk. Anybody else could've made it a cheesy, wedding band performance, but he made it current and cool. Lee just has the perfect raspy recordable voice that I know could produce radio hit after radio hit. I love that he's humble. Normally I frown upon those contestants that say they are having fun out there on stage (only the ones that suck), but I loved that he was having fun. Show those pearly whites Lee. I'm sure the ladies will give you a few more votes.

Aaron Kelly (Song Choice: Blues Suede Shoes)

I thought he did pretty well here. Aaron was totally out of his comfort zone by not singing a whiny boring ballad or something by Rascal Flatts and it worked for him. Granted Blue Suede Shoes is a totally cheesy song, I didn't mind it. He's 16. He looked cute. A little akward, but cute. He is still on Idol crown worthy, but if I am a producer for Grease on Broadway, I'm definitely considering him. But he may be in the bottom 3 based on who is left and the rest of the performances this week.

Siohban Magnus (Song Choice: Suspicious Minds)

Suspicious Minds... my all time-favorite Elivs song. This was a perfect song for Siobhan. She did pretty well at times, but with the terrible terrible 80's mom hair along with the arrangement of the song, it aged her about 20 years. She made it more of a ballad for a woman in her 40's, rather than just singing it the way it should be sung. It didn't really need to be changed up that much. Did I mentioned that I hate hate hated her hair? I do love how poised she is and she is the best at answering the questions that are thrown out at her... It's not necessary to be labeled. Doesn't want to be pigeon-holed. She's still figuring out who she is. All good anwers. Hope she's safe, but just a little sidenote: Suspicious Minds is what knocked off season 5 favorite Chris Daughtry during Elvis week. Hmmm... If there was ever a time in Idol history to use the save... that was it.

Michael Lynche (Song Choice: In the Ghetto)

Now, I liked this. It proved why he deserved the save last week. I really liked the vocals, but the word on the street is that it sounded WAY different than the original. I know the song a little bit, not a total Elvis fave. I really can't help but picture Taylor Hicks singing this song in Elvis week back in season 5. And I really don't love anything Taylor Hicks. I never voted for the guy once. He may have been the American Idol, but he was never MY Idol. Michael sang it well and you could feel the emotion and his connection to the song. Props to Siohban Magnus for suggesting that he sing the song. I'm not gonna lie, there's no way in hell I'd be giving really good suggestions to my competitors. More like "Sing Hound Dog. The judges will LOVE it. You should dance too." I'm evil.

Katie Stevens (Song Choice: Baby, What You Want Me To Do)

Katie is back in the groove. Her strong vocals are back and she is in the pocket. This girl has some soul. It was a perfect song and she had emotion and anger in the song (Good coaching job Lambert). Her outfit was cute, she looked and sounded current and this girl should be safe for another week. She's on her way to making the top 5.

Casey James (Song Choice: Lawdy Miss Clawdy)

I agree with what Simon said.. This was pretty much a "wasted opportunity". I feel like this performance had no beginning, middle, or end. I'm just not a blues fan so I could've cared less about it. He can play the guitar, but overall that performance pretty much left me with nothing to say. My friends and I talked through the whole thing about something stupid like nailpolish or what we were ordering in Victoria's Secret and just never really cared about his performance. And when talking about the show in the office today, I completely forgot to mention Casey's performance. That's not good. I think he might be in trouble.

In Trouble: Casey, Aaron, Andrew... Tim, for once, could be safe.

American Idol Top 9

Last night, the songbooks of Lennon & McCartney were open to the Idols, which was great... BUT they also just did this for 2 weeks straight weeks in season 7. It seems like yesterday Archie was singing Imagine or David Cook rocked out to Eleanor Rigby. So why go back already? Are we running out of ideas? How about an 80's week? How about a love songs week? I mean, I like Beatles songs but I don't want to hear an hour's worth of bad versions. They really need to start youthing it up for the rest of the season because apparently we have a bunch of old souls competing this year. Can someone please sing something current? PLEASE. This week the Idols were really on their own to pick their song and their arrangment. Yes, Sir Paul gave some encouragement via satellite, but everyone was really flying solo this week. I mean, no pressure to sing a Beatles song, make it original & unique, all why maintaining the purity and classic sound of the song.

Here's what I thought of the Idol efforts:

Aaron Kelly (Song Choice: A Long and Winding Road)

I love Aaron, but this is the kind of performance that when a new Idol viewer tunes it they think, "what the #$%? Why are these people famous?". And I get that. It was too old-fashioned and clearly not his best. He's so good when he hits the high notes, but not so much in the lower register. I get nervous for him. He neeeds to start shaking things up a bit. He needs to break away from the Flatts for a week. We know he wants to be the fourth Rascal Flatt, but until that happens, he needs to surprise us on Idol. By the way, have you noticed that the strategy for all of these contestants when given some critique, their answer now is "I'm working on something BIG next, if they let me stay." Smart. Very smart. Being the gullible viewer that I am, I really do want to see what this big thing is next week is. FINE. You have my vote. It's worked for Casey and Crystal already. And not that Crystal needs any help, but I'm digging the new Idol contestant strategy for 2010.

Katie Stevens (Song Choice: Let It Be)

Katie.... She was in the pocket. Perfect perfect song for her. She looked like she had been singing this song for years and I think she had with her dad. This was by far her best performance by a mile. Finally, the tone of her voice that we saw in Hollywood week has come back. She made it current, her voice was strong - she was in the zone. For me, this was a winning performance. And she looked fantastic, like she matured about 4 years. She finally dropped the New York & Company jewelry and Macy's junior section drab and upped her game in the apparel department. She was an R&B pop singer, someone we may want to hear on the radio (Sorry, Simon - that was NOT country. Not really sure what he was listening to). Nice work Kate. The "Kate Mates" in CT are dialing it up for you right now!

Andrew Garcia (Song Choice: Can't Buy Me Love)

Oh geez. What to say. This was such a bad song choice. This is a song you never sing on Idol. It will never sound cool or commercial, it will always sound like an old campy song from the 60's. It will always remind me of Ronald Miller paying Cindi Mancini $1,000 to be his girlfriend in the hit 80's movie. But Andrew didn't go "totally geek to totally chic" like Ronnie, but it was the opposit after last week's strong performance ("Forever"). This song is just a little hokey. Way too big band and way too "Hairspray". He sounded good, but I just couldn't get passed the cheese. Thought it was totally corny and he's better than that. He needed a mentor.. to tell him not to sing that song. It could have been his moment this week. He could of sang "Imagine" or "Yesterday".. something classic. Ya know he says "singing Lennon and McCartney songs is an honor." Then if you have once chance to sing one of their songs, then why ohwhy would you sing that song?? out of all songs? I don't get it. And Andrew is in trouble.

Michael Lynche (Song Choice: Eleanor Rigby)

I was into this version of this song. It was a perfect song for him and this was one tall order considering David Cook sang it two seasons ago and had "a moment" with it. However, he sang the rock version and Michael sang a cool R&B version of it. I think I'm finally seeing an artist in Michael Lynche and it goes to show the difference between what he did and what Andrew did. That song is sellable. You would download it. It could be on an album. Simon gave him a hard time saying he was confused as to what kind of artist he wants to be and what music he wants to make. Can't singers rock, rap, or pop songs then have a ballad on their album? Usher sings "Yeah" (one of the best songs ever and my brother's personal fave) and then he sings the song "Burn". What stops a rocker like a Bret Michaels singing "Nuthin' But a Good Time" and then singing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"?! Kind of a stupid thing to say Simon.

Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: Come Together)

You may not believe this, but I stated from my couch... "Crystal should sing Come Together". And she did. And she rocked it. And I was nervous for this one as Carly Smithson (season 7) had a moment with this song. Yet they were both very different versions. Both fantastic. This is a pretty timeless song. It's always going to be cool. I can't write it any differently this week... Crystal is great and clearly should be in the finals. Sign her. and I was loving the boots. She's getting prettier and more fashionable every week, yet still saying true to herself. Plus I love how conversational she is when she's getting judged. It's easy to like her.

Tim Urban (Song Choice: All My Loving)

I'm skipping this blog. He just needs to go home. The best thing the judges said was that they admired him for taking their criticism"like a man". Now I agree, but Proud of him, Schmoud of him....This is American Idol and he's not going to win. He doesn't need the positive feedback to make the 12 year old girls pick up their phones to call and text to keep him around another week. Did he sound okay? Sure. But I also went to the kitchen to get a snack, started painting my nails and looked through US magazine while he was singing. So...ya know. It's just not Idol worthy. It's the nicest way I can say it.

The best part is that every week, 3 times an episode my friend calls Tim Urban "Lambert". Every week. She's obviously talking about Alex Lambert who got eliminated in the top 14, just missing the Top 12. He was the one who sounded liked James Morrison, but his nerves got the best of him. So every week she goes, "I'm sorry, but Lambert has to go!". I just nod and agree and then sneak in a "Tim Urban" under my breath. She gives me the "oh yeah!" and we laugh. And then it happens 20 minutes later. Then the next night during elimination night, she tells me again, "Lambert will be in the bottom 3". Again... "Tim" under my breath. She corrects herself. We laugh. And so on and so on. So the only bad thing about Tim leaving the competition is, I won't get to hear her get this wrong again. I might miss that.

Casey James (Song Choice: Jealous Guy)

I really liked this peformance, one of his best. SO much better than his "Power of Love" performance. He finally showed his artistry. Did he always have that quiver in his voice? I'm not so sure that he did. But I'm into it. Keep up the quiver. What I liked about this performance is that I really didn't know the song and I didn't have any high expectations of it. So for me, it was something new and refreshing by Casey and I loved that he showed his vulnerable side. The blonde locks were flowing too. Casey is in for another week for sure.

Siobhan Magnus (Song Choice: Across the Universe)

I liked this version of this song, but I didn't love it. Love HER though. I had to agree with some of the judges about it being a little sleepy, but it was also tender and sweet. I wish she kicked it into high gear quicker. This performance just showed her versality. She is unpredictable and cool. And regardless of the sleepiness of the song, Siohban knows how to put on a performance with every little detail.. the stool, the lights, the look, the music. She's sticking around. The competition needs her.

Lee Dewyze (Song Choice: Hey Jude)

I love Lee. I thought this performance was wicked cool, and I don't even really love this song. I loved that he took 100% credit for the bagpiper, which let's face it, was a tad random. But Lee's voice can be heard on the radio tomorrow and his confidence grows a little bit each week. And he's even getting cuter to me. Lee is just cool.

In Trouble: Tim Urban, Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens (but just based on the fact that she's hit the bottom 3 for a few weeks now). Think it's Tim's time to go.....

A Cinderella Story

"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here." - Hoosiers

Last night, I watched one of the best National Championship basketball games ever. I've talked about how much love I love this tournament, how the small school can be put on the map, that every person cheers for the underdog. Well, this year, NCAA basketball fans couldn't have asked for more in a title game. It was exactly what we hoped for: David Vs. Goliath. Butler, a small university in Indianapolis located just 6 miles from where the championship took place, playing Duke University, one of the best teams in the history of college basketball. Butler has had good runs before in the tournament making it to the Sweet Sixteen, but never the Final Four and had NEVER played in a National Championship game until last night. Duke - Just the opposite. In the Mike Krzyzewksi era alone, they've appeared in 15 Final Fours, 8 titles games and had won 3 National Championships before last night.

Coach K has coached Duke for 30 years and even has the court at Cameron Indoor Stadium named after him. Butler coach, Brad Stevens, has a bit of a different story. He attended and played for Depauw University and was an economics major eventually getting a job with Eli Lilly. He wanted to be a basketball coach so badly, he quit his high-paying job and took a volunteer coaching job prior to the 2000–01 season with the Butler Bulldogs. I've heard his girlfriend supported them and that he even took a side job at Applebees to pay the bills. He was promoted to an assistant coaching position the next year and then in 2007, he became the head coach at just 30 years old. He's been called a coaching prodigy.

A funny little sidenote: My mom called and left me a voicemail last week during the Elite 8 game and went on and on about how cute Brad Stevens was. She even asked me questions like, "Isn't he just adorable!?" and told me to "Get on it!". Okay, mom... let me just call up Butler University and ask Brad Stevens out on a date. Sorry, mom... Look at the ring finger first. He's married with 2 kids. But thanks for playing...

In the last 10 years, Butler has become one of the best "Mid-major" schools to compete for the national championship. This term has been coined by the sports media over the years and is pretty much used to describe all of the other 25 conferences not normally considered to be a major conference (The Big East, ACC, Pac 10, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12). The school has less than 5,000 students and many of the players are these good mid-west farm kids, the kind you see in a movie the kind you root for. Ironically, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler's home court, hosted the historic 1954 game where Milan High School (enrollment 161) defeated Muncie Central High School (enrollment over 1,600) to win the Indiana state title, a game that inspired the the 1986 classic basketball film Hoosiers. They even returned to Hinkle Fieldhouse to shoot the film. Of course, we felt the script was written here... everything was place. The powerhouse. The underdog. The coaches. The players. This is your Cinderella story. The "little school that could"....

Unfortunately, the script didn't play out like it did in our heads. But know this: People will remember this game. They will remember this little school led by pure shooters Gordon Hayward, Matt Howard, and Shelvin Mack. They'll remember the tenacious defense by Ronald Nored and Avery Jukes. This was a team that was doing something very special. I grew up a Duke fan and I did like this team, but how can you not go with the underdog? I had the script written already. This was a movie in the making. Maybe it still is. The score went back and forth. It came down to free throws, and then one Butler shot from mid-court for the win... and it bounced off the rim. Off the rim. The Score: Duke - 61 Butler - 59. Two point difference and Duke ran away with their fourth championship. I sat there on the couch (after standing on it for the last minute of the game) and I cried a little. One tear streaming down my face. This is what sports is all about. I wanted this so badly for this team.

I know Butler isn't holding up the trophy or cutting down the nets, but there is no doubt this game had 2 champions. Duke should be applauded. They had a great season and they faced a lot of great opponents throughout the season and worked hard. But I'm not gonna lie.. I wanted the Hollywood ending here. Butler has most of it's players back next year, so maybe... just maybe Cinderella will be back at the ball next year.

American Idol Top 10

It's R&B week for the American Idols and I was really dreading this week. I was sure it was going to be filled with poor song choices. Full of Al Green and Earth, Wind, and Fire re-makes...a whole bunch of karaoke. But it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Sure, they still need me as their song selection coach, but I wasn't totally disappointed. Usher was the mentor this week and how very appropriate. This seems like a guy who would never be on this show unless he had an album coming out. Wait, he does have an album coming out. Isn't that convenient!? (Just like last week when Miley had a movie and an album coming out.) I never even thought I liked Usher that much, but I have to say... not only did I like him after watching this show, but I now have a crush on him. When I made that announcement during the show ("It's official, I have a crush on him"), my friend told me, "Ya KINDA have a crush on everyone...". Well that's semi-true, but if I am out on someone, you will know. When I'm in... Oh man, am I IN!?! Going on Idol is one of the best PR moves an artist can make these days. It made Usher less of a superstar and more of a true artist, one who is humbled and vulnerable. Of course the sunglasses inside don't help bring him down to normalcy, but then again I'm not going to tell Bono to take his glasses off, right!? Ushe is a bit of a diva and that's fine. So my new crush Usher takes the stage tonight on the results show and here's what I thought of his mentees....

Siohban Magnus (Song Choice: Through the Fire)

I absolutley love this song by Chaka Khan. I don't think I like any of her other songs. I'm not so sure I loved it for Siobhan though. Thought it was more of a Katie Stevens tune really. It was a tall order for her and she was a tad pitchy, but it was the first off-night since she's had on the show. I'd like her to stay away from this high-pitched "Siobhan note" she's trying to hit every performance. It's half-amazing, half-screeching.. I'm half-loving it and half-uncomfortable listening to it. I can't tell if it's good or if I'm scared. But she should be safe. Again, she has such amazing personal style and she's unique. As Usher said, this is the "true start for her to become a great artist".

Casey James (Song Choice: Hold On)

Good choice by Sammy Davis Jr. by Casey James. He sounded good, but I'm not really that interested. But Iwill say this: It beats "The Power of Love" from last week. I have to say though, It's not good when I turn it down... which I had to do. I found something more interesting to do or talk about. He is a very talented guitar player and he sings well. I just don't feel like there's ever going to be "a moment" with him, but give this guy the chance to write some orginal music and have some written for him and he could really do well, and I could see him as a frontman. I agree with the ladies though about him playing it safe. I say word to the "safe zone". And Ryan is starting to make me uncomfortable with his Kara-Casey comments. When he said to "Show it all" to Kara?? What was that about? Give it a rest Ry.

Michael Lynche (Song Choice: Ready for Love)

Love the placement on the stage, the lights, the guitar....and he sounded good. I don't really know the original by India Arie, but I like this song done by a man. Really smart song choice. I think this was far was Michael's moment so far in the competition. The song was a little gloom and doom, but at the same time it was honest and beautiful. I was kind of hanging on every lyric. Still not sure if he's my Idol though. No one that jacked should be an Idol. It's weird. America loves him, he'll stay around.

Didi Benami (Song Choice: What Becomes of the Broken Hearted)

Didi... our little drama queen this year. I liked her, but I wanted more. I just don't really love this song. It was a weird choice for me. It kind of just flat-lined and I wanted the big note to come faster than it did. It was a tad pitchy, and a little too old-fashioned for her. I do still love her voice and I know she will make the kind of music I will buy. The judges thought she lost her way.. .I don't really agree with that, I think she had just one week. Hopefully she's not in trouble. She'll make up for it next week...

Now... Ryan Seacrest... you deserve a slap on the wrist! I've loved him for 9 years and I was seriously mad at him. He asks Didi why she sang that song. She answered that it meant a lot to her. Then he said "but it was for a certain someone. Do you want to tell America show it was?" She answered that it just meant a lot to her. THEN he had to push again. You know those producers in his ear were going "ask her again, ask her again". Stop making her uncomfortable. Come on Ry! Enough!

Tim Urban (Song Choice: Sweet Love)

Ah Tim Urban. From the very start, I could already tell you this song was going to bore me. BUT... I laughed. I laughed through most of it. Not that he was that bad, but with the deer in headlights look and that he is not old enough to even relate to what he was singing about. This was a really really boring song choice. Just because it's R&B week, it doesn't mean everyone has to go back to the 1970's.. I mean, we do have R&B in THIS decade. Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Boys II Men, Alicia Keys... what is wrong with the people? Do not sing Anita Baker or Patti LaBelle songs on this show. I repeat, don't do it.

Tim actually sounded fine, but the problem was I either blogged or talked during his whole performance. Man, this kid can take a punch and still laugh about it. He has the best attitude. And he is super cute. But be cute at home. You're time on Idol is done.

SIdenote: my new crush Usher was pretty darn funny when he asked Tim to picture him as the woman he was singing to. Who knew... Usher is funny

Andrew Garcia (Song Choice: Forever)

Andrew is baaaaack. Back in his element. The cellos, the violins, and the drums. I really liked it and finally someone who is picking a current song!! Now, I have heard a version of this song and it's been done acousticly by Boyce Avenue, but I don't think Andrew knew that and I know he made it original on his own. "Forever" is a great song. I just have a hard time getting past the "double your pleasure, double your fun" line and always think about the Wrigley spearamint gum commerical. I agreed with the judges, Andrew really needs to show his charisma and he needs to kick that into high gear. We know he's cute and funny, but just needs to show it more.

Katie Stevens (Song Choice: Chain of Fools)

Good song for her voice. We FINALLY see the power in her voice. Although, this song has been done on Idol by one Fantasia Barrino (note: I did NOT vote for her) and she was well known for it. I think Kat McPhee did it too. It's an Idol staple. Didn't love the big band thing, but she's back in her comfort zone and she made it look so easy to sing. I still want her to raise the bar though as this song was kind of an obvious choice for her. She needs to stay current and she was right... R&B pop is where it's at for her. Could be in the bottom 3. She does need to work on her personal style... I don't love all the heart necklaces and earrings.. too much. It's a little Forever 21 at the prom for me.

Lee Dewyze (Song Choice: Treat Her Like a Lady)

I didn't know this song before and I loved it. AND you can be damn sure I'm going to trot right on over to iTunes to buy it. Because that is what I do. It made me want to download it and that's when you know you have a good performance on this show. I'd say Lee had his moment. The guy has an incredible voice and just needs to make a record. I'm a HUGE fan. Still wish my friend would stop calling him "sad eyes" though.

Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: Midnight Train to Georgia)

SO proud of this girl. The heels, the piano, the performance. Perfect song for her. I mean seriously... SIGN HER. I already see her on Divas Live with Kelly Clarkson, Sherly Crow, Etheridge and company. I got a little nervous when she was at the piano though. I just wanted her to get it right, so I held my breath a little. When she got up though is when she really nailed it. And then my friend and I started the group clap. HELLO, we gave her the group clap!! You don't get so involved in a performance that you clap from your couch and cheer it on. Sign her! And she's also getting prettier and prettier. I think she's just a true original beauty. Love the Bowersox.

Aaron Kelly (Song Choice: Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone)

Not Aaron's best by any means, but I do love the kid. This song was Kris Allen's coming out party last year, so he had some mighty big shoes to fill. And it was a little early to sing this song. If it was a couple seasons ago, maybe. But Kris JUST sang it with the piano too and it was his big moment on the show. Aaron still seemed under the weather. Also, the jacket and the hair were making me laugh. I think they were trying so hard to make him look R&B, and we know that he isn't. It just didn't work for me. Not my favorite performance from Aaron, but America loves him.

In Trouble: Tim Urban, Katie Stevens, Casey James

Could this be Tim's last performance or will the teeny boppes vote and save him!?